What it is, how it works, why it’s a growing trend

• Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
• Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
• Share on X (Opens in new window) X

Many people who are frustrated by high home prices have stopped trying to buy a house on their own.

Instead, more buyers are teaming up. Co-buying a home with a friend, sibling, or family member is now a real option, not just a backup plan.

If you’re interested, start by talking openly about money and goals with your potential co-buyers. It also helps to work with a real estate agent who knows about shared ownership and can guide you through the process.

“Co-owning solves the problem of affordability while also allowing the accumulation of long-term wealth through a fixed asset,” said Kerron Stokes, owner of REMAX Leaders.

“Many Gen Zs have removed the more emotional idea of home ownership in exchange for the pragmatic view that property is a collateralized asset that can have multiple owners all seeing shares benefit.”

Numbers back up the trend

According to the 2025 NextGen Homebuying report, a third of Gen Z adults say they’d consider co-buying a home with friends, siblings, or family members.

That means Gen Z is almost 80% more likely than millennials to consider shared ownership. But both generations are willing to make sacrifices to buy homes.

Sibling co-buying jumped from just 4% of Gen Z homeowners in 2023 to 12% in 2024 and 22% in 2025, according to data from the Bank of America Institute.

Multi-generational home purchases now make up a record 17% of all sales.

Things add up differently when you have two incomes

Why should one person carry a mortgage, property taxes, maintenance, and insurance costs alone?

Stokes said co-buying lets two, three, or even four people share the costs and risks.

Still, there are challenges. People might disagree about managing the property, splitting expenses, or handling repairs.

Setting up clear agreements and exit plans from the beginning can help prevent problems later.

If one person loses their job or takes a pay cut, the home remains secure because the other owners can help cover costs.

Boomers join the trend too

Many Baby Boomers are actively looking to transfer generational wealth while they’re still alive, Herron said.

“One of the easiest options is to co-buy or gift a significant down payment to grandchildren or through purchasing properties where they live independently with their children,” he said.

Duplexes, ADUs, and shared ownership aren’t just ways to save money. They help families build something permanent for future generations.

Gen Z was built for this

Gen Z grew up learning, working, and connecting in groups—through group projects, co-working spaces, online games, and Discord servers.

Related Articles

• April 10, 2026 Sponsored: March pending sales jump 30% as Denver housing market finds its footing
• April 3, 2026 Sponsored: Discover how far you can stretch $400K when house hunting in Colorado
• March 27, 2026 Sponsored: Why record-low snowpack is slowing Colorado mountain home sales
• March 20, 2026 Sponsored: Cautious spring housing market: Colorado buyers return with less urgency
• March 13, 2026 Sponsored: Dreaming of a backyard? Colorado’s land prices put space out of reach

Co-owning a home with trusted people is just applying the same teamwork to real estate.

Here’s what makes co-buying flexible: you don’t have to sell if your life changes. If you get a job in another city, you can rent out your share of the home and keep earning income.

These details are usually set up in that original agreement, so shared ownership can adapt as your life changes.

The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this post’s preparation.

• Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
• Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
• Share on X (Opens in new window) X

RevContent Feed

• Colorado snow totals for April 17, 2026

  Colorado snow totals for April 17, 2026

• Extensive search underway for hunter missing in southern Colorado mountains

  Extensive search underway for hunter missing in southern Colorado mountains

• Keeler: Shohei Ohtani, Nikola Jokic rocked Denver on Saturday — but Lionel Messi outdrew them both

  Keeler: Shohei Ohtani, Nikola Jokic rocked Denver on Saturday — but Lionel Messi outdrew them both

• Renck: Timberwolves, Chris Finch cry foul on Nuggets’ Jamal Murray. Try guarding him better.

  Renck: Timberwolves, Chris Finch cry foul on Nuggets' Jamal Murray. Try guarding him better.

• Injured commercial pilot wins over $7M in Lakewood LASIK malpractice case

  Injured commercial pilot wins over $7M in Lakewood LASIK malpractice case

• Head of Colorado’s Medicaid agency reached nearly $40,000 settlement with state before resigning

  Head of Colorado's Medicaid agency reached nearly $40,000 settlement with state before resigning

• Dodgers, in coldest game in their history, dominate Rockies at frigid Coors Field

  Dodgers, in coldest game in their history, dominate Rockies at frigid Coors Field

• Commerce City investigating mystery pipe leaking arsenic into South Platte River

  Commerce City investigating mystery pipe leaking arsenic into South Platte River

• Nuggets hold off Timberwolves for ‘grimy’ Game 1 win to open NBA playoffs

  Nuggets hold off Timberwolves for 'grimy' Game 1 win to open NBA playoffs

• Growing Cherry Creek Schools scandal is a signal to districts to scrutinize education consultants (Editorial)

  Growing Cherry Creek Schools scandal is a signal to districts to scrutinize education consultants (Editorial)